The days and weeks after the 2010 Tour de France have proven to be some of the most volatile in recent years in terms of the professional cycling transfer market. We have seen the emergence of the Luxembourg team built around brothers Andy and Frank Schleck, and an Australian outfit that is trying to gain entrance into the ProTour and compete in Europe next season. Even existing teams have seen major change, with Maurio Gianetti’s young Footon-Servetto-Fuji project adding buying power with sponsorship from Italian footwear company Geox, and ISD and Farnese Vini doing an unusual sponsor swap with Lampre.
New additions and an influx of money are now fuelled by the demise of the German Milram squad, and the recent surprise announcement that Cervélo TestTeam would fold at the end of the season and now partner with the American Garmin-Transitions team.
What does this mean for the pro peloton, and those who are trying to secure contracts for 2011? Are these developments good or bad for the sport? What does it take to increase a rider's value, and what role does scandal play?
In part one of VeloNation’s behind-the-scenes look at the sport, we talk to Dutchman Orlando van den Bosche, the agent who looks after several big names in the sport including the versitile Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit), Lars Boom (Rabobank), as well as affected Cervélo TestTeam talent Theo Bos.
VeloNation: First off, Orlando, there have been a lot of changes and developments this summer, with quite a bit of movement. Is this the most volatile transfer market you have seen?
Orlando van den Bosche: It’s a very interesting period with teams coming and going; at least it shows that there’s a lot of interest around cycling and it’s good to see big companies getting involved with the sport.
VN: Is the Tour still the main ‘rider bazaar’?
OvdB: In a way, teams need big names and in the first weeks of the Tour it’s decided where those big names will go.
The last part of filling the other places is easier and can be left until later in the season.
VN: I’m a pro with no contract for 2011 on September 1, have I still got time to get signed?
OvdB: Of course, there are spaces but it gets more difficult as it gets later.
My rider Theo Bos was affected by the Cervélo situation but I’ve had a lot of interest and will place him. (although Orlando would not confirm that the place was with Rabobank).
For a smaller rider it’s more difficult, though.
VN: Has the Cervelo/Garmin situation made it a buyers’ market?
OvdB: Definitely – you won’t get the best price because there are more riders available, although it depends upon how much they need you.
The most important thing for an athlete is not necessarily the money; he has to be on a team where his goals and the programme the team provide fit like a glove.
The structure of the team and their plans for the future are key factors – so when a team like Cervélo just stops ‘dead’ it makes life very hard.
VN: What do you think of teams merging?
OvdB: Sometimes it can be a good thing but as long as the riders know early and can react.
It’s just part of cycling; teams merge, they come and they go – this business is like that.
But when it happens late with no notice, it’s not good.
VN: Was Alberto Contador’s move to Bjarne Riis Saxo Bank team a surprise for you?
OvdB: I think a surprise to the whole world!
It was a good, smart move by Bjarne; he needed to replace the Schlecks and he’s one of the few people who could give Alberto what he needs.
With Alberto the contract is not just about money; if it was then no one could outbid Astana.
He’s had two stressful years at Astana and he wants to go into 2011 knowing what’s happening with his team mates, with strategy, with training – he wants peace of mind, and Bjarne can give him that.
VN: Team Sky’s first year hasn’t been spectacular, do you think they’ll be ‘shopping?’
OvdB: All teams with ambitions at the highest level are always looking for good riders, but I think that Sky have a long term plan which they are committed to. Year one was really just to see what happens and then develop from there.
VN: Team Geox recruited Denis Menchov and Carlos Sastre, another surprise?
OvdB: For me it proves that the team has real ambition, it shows that they are serious – on paper that’s a good combination of leaders.
But it can’t be a big team just with two names, now they have to look at the whole structure; building a team is like building a pyramid, but from the top down. You start with the top stones then put the other stones in below to support them.
VN: What can an average rider hope to earn?
OvdB: There’s a UCI minimum wage of around 30,000 Euros, a little more for Pro Tour and a little less for Pro Continental; but after that it depends upon various factors – your past record, your age, the expectations the team has for you.
It makes a big difference depending on your age. It’s better to be young, that way you have a lot more potential value to the team.
Many, but not all of the top riders are now into seven figure salaries.
VN: Yauheni Hutarovich (FDJ) recently won a stage of the Vuelta a España. What does that do to his value?
OvdB: Apart from anything else he proves that Cavendish isn’t unbeatable!
You can’t build value on one result like that, but if he wins another stage in the race then he’ll certainly be worth more money.
VN: Why are cyclists paid so much less than footballers or golfers?
OvdB: An interesting question – that gap is too big and that’s not good.
But we should be asking ourselves, ‘why is the gap so big?’ and try to learn from football, golf and Formula One.
It shows it’s not about the level of effort which a sportsman has to put in.
VN: What does a drugs scandal do to a rider’s value?
OvdB: That’s a difficult question, in the peloton of today teams don’t take offenders back so easily – a few years ago it didn’t matter so much.
The mentality of a ‘second chance’ is a reasonable one and [Riccardo] Riccò is still paid a lot of money; but then you have Michael Rasmussen who can’t get a proper contract.
It’s difficult to explain, but I think a lot is to do with how DS and sponsors feel about a particular rider – the decisions seem to be taken on an emotional level.
VN: Do you study results of important espoir races like Giro Valle d'Aosta and the Tour de l'Avenir to recruit new talent?
OvdB: That’s not really our type of business, we’re not in it for the short term; it’s about passion and building long term relationships.
VN: We’ve heard that the Schleck’s new sponsor is the Auchan supermarket chain, can you comment?
OvdB: I can’t say anything about that but, I can tell you that I’ve had a little peek behind the curtains and that will be one big team; not just because the Schlecks are there but in terms of the way it’s being organised and the people behind it – it’s going to be very impressive!